December 17, 1998 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia has created a new scholarship program to recognize outstanding northern BC students.

The UNBC Scholars Program is a new program specifically designed as an incentive for grade 11 students to achieve high marks. At the completion of the academic year, all 52 secondary schools in northern BC will select the grade 11 student with the highest grade-point average. That student will receive a provisional offer of admission to attend UNBC (pending successful completion of grade 12) and a tuition waiver for the first year. Upon attending UNBC, if the student maintains a B average, he/she will be able to renew the tuition remission for the duration of a bachelors degree program.

"If a UNBC Scholar maintains at least a B average throughout their bachelors degree program at UNBC, they will essentially be earning a bachelors degree for free," says Alex Reed, UNBC Associate Vice-President for Student Services and University Registrar. "Added up over all four years, the tuition waiver would be worth nearly $10,000. This is UNBC's contribution to rewarding student excellence in the North, and allows UNBC to compete with other universities that have large endowment funds to attract top students."

UNBC Scholars are also guaranteed a place in residence. The program will be available to the 1999 grade 11 graduates.

This year, UNBC will award around 300 scholarships worth a total of $400,000. About 90% of the value of the awards has been acquired from donors and private contributions.